Bartow Lawyers

I am a seasoned criminal defense attorney with 25 years of courtroom experience. My background as a former prosecutor and law enforcement academy instructor gives me unique insight into defending the rights of the accused, which I am passionate about. I graduated from the University of Miami Honors Program and received my Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University. My legal journey began in insurance defense, but I quickly transitioned to criminal defense to advocate for clients daily. With over 200 trials under my belt, I have successfully handled a wide range of criminal cases, including homicide, drug trafficking, and DUI. My...

Diane Buerger has over 30 years experience as a Florida Criminal Defense lawyer – with cases ranging from felonies to misdemeanor and traffic cases. Her practice includes representation on both the trial and appellate levels. She handles cases from high-profile to first-time offenders. Her primary practice is criminal law -- in both trial and appellate courts. She's successfully argued before the Florida Supreme Court -- and District Courts of Appeal. She's a Past President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers -- and also the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

I am a Board Certified Criminal Defense Lawyer, a distinction that only a small percentage of Florida attorneys achieve. Over the course of my career, I have tried more than 76 criminal cases, conducted hundreds of depositions, and handled numerous motion and evidentiary hearings. I am honored to have been inducted into the National Trial Lawyers' "Top 40 Under 40" list for Florida Criminal Trial Lawyers, and the Top 100. Additionally, I have had the privilege of being published three times in *The Defender*, a publication by the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (FACDL). In 2015, I was proud...

Attorney Kevin Humphries attended Stetson University College of Law before he started off his legal career serving as a felony prosecutor for the state attorney’s office of the 10th Judicial Circuit. His history includes a widely diverse track record at both county and circuit court and in the state courts of the following counties: Dade, Hardee, Hillsborough, Highlands, Osceola, Pinellas, and Polk. Mr. Humphries has also litigated cases in federal court in the United States Middle District Court for Florida in Tampa. Kevin Humphries has served as a partner in private practice for more than a decade. He opened Lopez &...

Stacey Hendrix McNelis - Experienced Legal Support From A Polk County Native

Stacey H. McNelis is dedicated to the practice of law and helping those in need. She focuses primarily in Criminal, Dependency and Family Law, and Social Security in Polk, Hardee and Highlands counties. She is an experienced trial attorney, having handled numerous cases in the county court as well as at the circuit court level. Over the course of her career, she has argued hundreds of motions and has tried over 30 jury trials.

Prior to founding McNelis Law, Ms. McNelis joined Colón & McNelis, P.A., in 2005 and practiced...

Attorney Melodie López earned her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Central Connecticut State University in 1991 before moving on to the University of Miami School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 1994. Her career began working in the public defender’s office, where she tried criminal cases. Later, she moved on to the state attorney’s office. From there, Attorney López started her civil litigation practice. It was in 2009 that she opened Lopez & Humphries, P.A., with partner Kevin Humphries. Here, they focus on many different personal injury cases, including those that involve commercial truck accidents, other motor...

Thomas C. Saunders is one of only a small handful of lawyers in Polk County, Florida that hold themselves out as double Board Certified. Tom is certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in both Civil Trial and Business Litigation.

WORK EXPERIENCE Board Certified as a Criminal Trial Specialist by the Florida bar (1999-Present) BOSWELL & DUNLAP, LLP Bartow FL. Partner, Litigation Specialist, 2004 - Present OFFICE OF THE STATE ATTORNEY, TENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, Tallahassee, FL Assistant State Attorney, Special Prosecution Director. EDUCATION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Board of Directors Bartow Women’s Care Center, (2009 to Present) Board of Directors, Chairman, Heartland for Children. (2010 to Present) Tenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee (2005-Present) Bartow Chamber of Commerce, Board of...

Pete was raised in Hardee County and graduated from Hardee Senior High School in 2003. He then went on to get his bachelor's degree in International Affairs from Florida State University with a focus on Middle Eastern Studies. He received his law degree with honors from Tulane University Law School in New Orleans in 2010 and was a Notes and Comments Editor for the Tulane Journal of International and Comparative Law. After law school, Pete worked as a prosecutor mostly in Hardee and Highlands Counties, and briefly in Polk County in the Economic Crimes Division. Pete then worked for William Fletcher...

I am a trial attorney with more than nineteen years of courtroom experience helping individuals, couples, and families in Polk and Hardee Counties. I hold a Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability. Due to the nature of my practice, I appear before the judges in the Family Law division practically every day of the week. Through my years of trial work I have grown to recognize which cases may ultimately have to be tried and which cases may be resolved without going to court. By focusing on solutions to my client’s problems rather than...

Having practiced both as a prosecutor and an assistant public defender, i was able to represent many clients in a short period of time. i was able to go to trial on a regular basis and acquire the skills that I needed to successfully represent clients throughout my 25 year career. I have tried serious cases both at the state and federal level, including, murder, trafficking and sex crimes to mention just a few. I have the trial experience that will facilitate a fair resolution of your case short of trial or if necessary,aggressively represent you and your rights...

As the founder of the legal practice Advocate Law Firm, P.A., Lakeland attorney Melissa A. Wilson devotes her practice to cases of family law, criminal defense and personal injury. She has been working in the legal field since 1998, and she is admitted to practice in both Connecticut and Florida courts. Attorney Wilson is a graduate of the University of Central Florida and Quinnipiac University School of Law. Contact her firm for a free case review.

Deborah Carroll grew up in central Florida, raised her family in central Florida and committed her practice to her hometown area. She graduated in 1999 from University of South Florida with a B.A. in Business Management. In 2002, Ms. Carroll graduated from Stetson University with her MBA and Stetson University College of Law with her JD. Following law school, Ms. Carroll worked as an Assistant Public Defender with the 10th Judicial Circuit in Bartow, Florida, with both felony and misdemeanor cases. In 2005, Ms. Carroll went into private practice with a well known law firm in Lakeland, FL...

Rafael was born and raised in Polk County, Florida, and graduated from Auburndale High School in 1984. Rafael received his B.A. degree from the University of Florida and his Juris Doctor degree from The Ohio State University College of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in April of 1998, and initially served as an Assistant Public Defender, handling a variety of cases. After just a few months as a misdemeanor attorney, Rafael was quickly promoted to Felony, where he was responsible for cases ranging from drug possession to murder. Rafael soon established...

Thomas C. Grajek is an attorney serving Lakeland, Polk County, and the Tampa Bay area for over 30 years, handling both criminal defense and personal injury cases. Unlike many criminal defense attorneys who began as prosecutors, Grajek has been exclusively on the defense side since day one — never working to put people in jail. He is one of only four attorneys in Florida to hold the ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist designation from the American Chemical Society — a rare scientific credential that gives him a unique advantage in DUI and drug cases. Domestic Violence Defense in Lakeland, FL: Grajek has successfully defended...

The passion to practice law is #1 in my life! I enjoy the everyday opportunity to work with individuals, families and businesses; I help them to save time and trouble! Outside of work, I enjoy a number of activities and hobbies. For me, travel is paramount; I have been to all 50 US States, seven of seven continents and 117 countries! I enjoy photography (travel and landscape particularly), public speaking, non-fiction reading, creative writing and publishing articles, visiting art museums, jazz, gardening, hiking, kayaking, backgammon, attending performing arts and theatre productions, and dining on exotic cuisine. I have offices in Winter Haven and...

As a trial lawyer, I see people at a time when they are in their greatest need. Unfortunately, it's not easy to choose the right lawyer for your case. If you choose a lawyer who will never go to court, you are destined to settle your case for too little. Lawyers who never go to court by definition always take the last best offer to settle. Insurance companies know which lawyers will always talk their clients into a settlement.

I am Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Civil Trial. I'm proud to go to trial when necessary to...

Alan S. Neufeld, the founding partner, brings over 39 years of experience in advocating for seriously injured clients. He has litigated cases in both Federal District Court and State Circuit Courts, achieving notable records for the highest awards in personal injury cases.

Attorney L. Reed Bloodworth, Founder and CEO of Bloodworth Law, PLLC, is a Florida U.S. News & World Report Best Lawyer® in Commercial Litigation Award 2019-22; in Trusts & Estates Litigation 2022; and in Real Estate Litigation 2022. Bloodworth Law is a U.S. News & World Report "Best Law Firm" 2020-22 and has established itself with an office in Orlando and one in Winter Haven. Reed, a 2019-22 Super Lawyer, was named a Florida Trend’s Magazine Florida Legal Elite™ in Civil, Commercial Litigation 2017-19, 2021, a group of less than 1.3% of Florida's attorneys. Reed has been an attorney since 2004...

Attorney Howard Iken is the founder and managing partner of Ayo & Iken, a law firm helping clients with divorce, custody, bankruptcy, criminal defense, and debtor defense. We have offices throughout Tampa Bay and Central Florida. We have the following locations available: Wesley Chapel Summergate Professional Center Seven Oaks - near Wiregrass Mall - off Hwy 56 27642 Cashford Circle Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 New Port Richey - Pasco ...

Heather Bryan stands as a seasoned trial attorney, wielding extensive knowledge across family law, criminal law, and personal injury law. In 2016, she took a significant step in her legal journey by founding her own law practice, focusing predominantly on family law. In this capacity, Heather has been a guiding force for numerous families, navigating them through the intricacies of the divorce process with compassion and legal acumen. Heather's commitment to the legal profession extends beyond her practice. She has been an integral part of the Polk Association for Women Lawyers since its inception, serving on the Board of Directors and...

With over 30 years of experience in personal injury law, Mr. Abrahamson embraces the practice of working with clients on a contingency basis.

“A system of hiring an attorney on an hourly basis rewards inefficiency, creates delays and commonly creates negative issues between the lawyer and the client. Representing clients on a contingency basis in which the law firm earns a percentage of the settlement, however, is much more rewarding for the client and the attorneys. We have a common goal: to pursue the maximum recovery for the client. If there is no financial recovery (i.e. settlement or jury verdict), the...

Ramil Kaminsky is the first-generation American son of Jewish Uzbek immigrants who fled the Soviet Union (U.S.S.R) under threat of religious persecution. He was raised on Brighton Beach, NY, also known as “Little Moscow”, where he learned not only about the “evils of communism”, but also the value of being an American. Young Ramil was very blessed. Unlike other Jewish parents, who only wanted medical doctors, Ramil’s parents gave him options to either be a medical doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant. Ramil’s parents pursued the American dream from New York to Florida. He moved to the Tampa Bay Area as a Junior...

Jacquelyn M. Codd, Esq., has been a Polk County native since she was 5 years old. She started working in local law firms in 2010 and worked as a paralegal and law clerk throughout her time in undergrad and law school. She consistently focused on clerking in areas which could give her valuable contracts, collections, and construction law experience. She also ensured that she spent at least one year working in the area of consumer and collection defense so that she could learn the tricks of the trade and protect her future clients from falling into regulatory compliance traps during...

Attorney Brian Monk has lived in the Central Florida area nearly his entire life. In 2000, he graduated from the University of Florida with a B.S. in Business Management and a B.A. in Political Science. Thereafter, Brian earned a Law degree, a Master’s of Education degree and Specialist degree in counseling from the University of Florida. While in law school, Brian earned a Certificate in Family Law and was named a Fellow of the UF Law Center on Children and Families. Following law school, Brian worked as an Assistant State Attorney in Ocala, Florida, prosecuting felony and misdemeanor cases...

As a practicing attorney in Polk County, Florida, for over ten years, I'm proud to offer my clients advice and representation in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and elder law. My vision is to bring a personal feel and approach to each of my client's legal concerns. It is my goal to give each client effective advice and craft personal solutions for difficult legal matters. I'm privileged to be part of the Polk County community, and proud to know that when the good people of this community need my guidance and experience, I'll be here for them.

Tim Shanahan is a Florida personal injury attorney and founder of Maranatha Law, serving injured individuals and families across Florida. Since 2015, Tim has represented clients in car accident and serious injury cases with a client-first approach rooted in compassion, discipline, and strong legal strategy. A graduate of Stetson University College of Law, Tim trained under some of the country’s most successful personal injury attorneys before launching his own firm. He combines sharp negotiation skills with trial readiness, pursuing maximum compensation for every client. Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Tim is a husband and father of four who believes...